Noob Question about Purpose of Dream Journal

I know it is important to keep a dream journal to recognize dream signs, but it seems that the main themes of my dreams (including ones that I haven't written down) are all influenced by an event, person, conversation, etc that I had that day. I never seem to have signs like running away, falling, or a strange event that keeps happening. I have started writing down my dreams, so maybe that will help with analysis. Can you share some of your dream signs so I have a better idea of what to look for? Thanks

My signs are being among friends, at an old school, being chased, getting angry. Actually the purpose of a dream journal is more than about just identifying dream signs. It's about building awareness and memory of events in the dreamworld so that you're better able to recognize you're dreaming and remember your dreams and lucids. You could know all your dream signs in theory but still not have the awareness to recognize them when dreaming. Or you could have no particular dream signs but remember to do a reality check due to raised awareness.

Cool, thanks ;)

I dream of toilets, schools, my idols, my family. These are a few more common signs that I can remember.

Isn't another purpose of a dream journal to help remember dreams. I know writing them down definitely helps me

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Originally Posted by whysoserious111

Isn't another purpose of a dream journal to help remember dreams. I know writing them down definitely helps me

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Yes, this is the main reason I keep one as i'm not a person that DILDs alot. Without good recall, you can risk having a lucid dream and not remembering that it happened. Or just as bad, remember the fact you had a lucid dream and not remember anything you done! For people that aim mostly for DILDs, dream journals are very important to trying to find out their dream signs. Also, to find out your dream sign, you should recall as much detail as possible about the dream. Even such details as items you remember, even if they were not the main plot of the dream (items you see in the corners of your eyes, whatever) and the lighting of the room.

The most common dream sign for me is being inside. About 80%+ of my dreams take place in doors and with a few close friends.

I also have dreams about things that I did earlier that day, but the signs are still there, now I just need to get more aware... :offtobed:

I often dream of skateboarding, low gravity, and college psychology.

The purpose of a journal extends beyond identifying dreamsigns, however. Our memory functions interdependently, and all events once 'completed' have a particular sequence. When you begin to write something down (anything you remember) - lets call it B, then there must've been an event that preceded and proceeded that B. Given the interdependency of memory, it will be far easier to recall these preceding and proceeding events after noting down B.

Not sure if I'm clear here, but I hope you get the gist.

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Originally Posted by Wolfwood

I often dream of skateboarding, low gravity, and college psychology.

The purpose of a journal extends beyond identifying dreamsigns, however. Our memory functions interdependently, and all events once 'completed' have a particular sequence. When you begin to write something down (anything you remember) - lets call it B, then there must've been an event that preceded and proceeded that B. Given the interdependency of memory, it will be far easier to recall these preceding and proceeding events after noting down B.

Not sure if I'm clear here, but I hope you get the gist.

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What I got from that is that jotting down notes on your dreams jogs your memory of what you dreamed about? And I totally agree with you, I found that writing down ANYTHING about the nights dreams helps to bring back a clearer image.

Thanks everyone for listing your dream signs, it's giving me a better perspective.

Another thing - when you write down your dream, it tells your mind, that you care about having and remembering your dreams. The more you think about dreaming, the more will your mind understand, that dreams and recall is important to you and it will pay more attention to it. It helps, if your dream journal is some kind of a 'special' notebook. You can just take a regular notebook and make it 'special'.